Cattle marker



Aug. 24 1943. F, SCHACHT 2,32 ,824

CATTLE MARKER Filed Oct. 30, 1941 2 sheets- -iih-Pet 1 w malady Aug. 24, 1943. w 1-- sc c -rr I 2,327,824

CATTLE MARKER Filed Oct. 30, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITED STATES IF'EENT OFFICE v 2,327,824 1 j CATTLE MARKER 7 William F.,Schacht, Huntington, Ind.

Application October 30, 1941, Serial No. 417,195

11 Claims.

This invention is a novel improvement in cattle' markers which can be readily applied either as a horn chain marker, or neck chainmarker, to cattle or live-stock so that farmers, herdsmen or breeders can readily distinguish or identify their cattle or live-stock; the present invention being an improvement upon the markers disclosed in my co-pending applications Serial No.

389,984, filed April 23, 1941; Serial No. 407,968,

tially open, so that in applying the marker it isonly necessary to pass the chain around the neck or horns of the live-stock and to engage a link adjacent the free end of the chain in said open eye, and thereafter close the open eye to lock theends of the chain around theneck or horns of the animal.

The markers disclosed in Serial Nos. 407,968 and 409,734 are improvements upon those disclosed in Serial No. 389,984 consisting largely in the provision of means at the eyes of the markers for preventing the chain from slipping out of said eyes in event the eyes were not fully closed; also mean for preventing the eyes from bending; and means for preventing the eyes from opening, it being found that the animals, when rubbing their horns and headstogether, would often catch the chains of the markers in their horns, and moreover the chains would often become caught in fences or the like, with the result that the markers become detached and lost if the strains on the eyes set up by the caught chains was suflicient to cause the eyes to bend or open.

In each of said aforesaid applications the markers were of unitary structure, stamped from sheet material, such as flexiblesteel or brass, and wastage of metal was considerable. Moreover, at the present time, owing to the large amount of metal assigned to defense orders, such metallic material is difficult to procure; and

therefore, I have provided a composite marker plate madefrom non-metallic non-corrosive material, such as fibre or other material which will take the stamped imprint of theindicla, same being reinforced With strip steel in such manner that there will be no wastage of metal or fibre, while providing a marker plate which will not tarnish, the steel being utilized toalso form the eyes of the marker plate. t

Qne object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a composite marker plate consistingof a fibre or other non-metallic non-corrosive indicia bearing sheet, having riveted across its back a steel strip reinforcing the sheet and preventingwarping thereof, said steel strip having itsends projecting beyond the sides of the sheet, which ends are rolled to form the eyes, either single or double, at opposite sides of the marker plate, theouter tips of, the rolled eyes seating against the side edges of the sheet to prevent the 'in said eyes from readily slipping or passing therethrough, in event the eyes are not fully closed. l l Another object of the invention is to provide a composite chain marker of the above type in which the eyes are preferably but not necessarily offset rearwardly of the plane of the sheet, so that when the marker is used as a horn chain marker, with the plate engaging the forehead of the livestock, the eyes will maintain the body of the plate spaced from the animals forehead to provide ventilationthereunder; also to provide a chain having links of relatively greater length than the width. of the eyes, whereby sufficientplay between the eyes and links is allowed to permit the eyes to move up and down in the links, thustending to prevent the marker plate from readily turning over on the animals forehead due to movements of the animals head;-also to pro-- vide a marker in which the back of the fibre sheet is provided with a transverse recess receiving the steel reinforcing strip, so thatthe latter will lie flush with the back of the sheet when the parts are assembled. 7

Another object is to provide in a composite marker plate of the above type having double eyes at each side of the plateynovel means for preventing the eyes from spreading along the axis of the eyes due to pull on the chain, the use of the double eyes forming a double lock between each end of the chain and the plate.

,Anotheriobject is to provide a marker of the above type having novel means for preventing opening of the eyes due to pull on the chain, consisting of offset portions at the bases of the eyes upon which the outer rolled tips of the eyes seat when the metal is rolled to form the eye, said off-set portions being formed by projections, ridges or grooves formed in the material of the eye.

Another object is to provide a composite marker plate particularly adapted for use with young stock, in which the fibre or other indicia bearing sheet is provided with a metal strip at or along its upper edge, which metal serves 'to reinforce the sheet; and if desired the metal strip may be formed with one or more eye-forming shanks, which eyes would normally be closed; said fibre sheet having slots at opposite sides adapted to be engaged by a strap passing therethrough and around the animals neck; and when the animal grows older, the strap may be removed and the eye or eyes opened to receive the ends of the chain which passes around the horns or neck of the animal.

Another object is to provide a composite marker plate having a metallic eye in the form of a U-shaped strap embracing the upper edge of the sheet with a ring secured therein, the portions of thestrap engaging the sheet being elongated to stiffen the fibre sheet and being secured to the sheet by rivets passing through the ends of the strap and through the sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a composite marker having a metallic strip riveted to the upper edge of the sheet and extending above the upper edge of the sheet, the strip having spaced tongues extending from its upper edge which are rolled to form a pair of spaced eyes, one eye being closed on the engaging link of the chain and the other eye left open to receive a link at the opposite end of the chain; and if desired the base of the strip overlying the sheet may extend the full width of the sheet for the purpose of preventing the sheet from warping.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a composite marker of the above type in which the two separate metallic strips may be secured to the upper edge of the fibre sheet, same extending upwardly and outwardly, or vertically, said strips being rolled to form separate eyes for engaging links at the respective ends of the chain. I 1 i A still further object of the invention is to provide a composite marker-having a single metallic strip extending above its upper edge rolled to form an eye in which a lock ring or split ring is engaged to receive the ends of the chain, said strip if desired extending the full width of the fibre sheet to prevent same from warping.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several'practical embodiments thereof to enable others to adopt and'use the same; and will summarize inthe claims, the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired. 7 In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is aplan view showing one form of my novelmarker plate.

Fig. 2'is a top view thereof showing the chain link locked in one closed eye of the marker plate, and the other eye open to receive the link at the other end ofthe chain.

Fig. 3 is a topview of a modified markerplate.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a further modified marker plate.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a further modified marker plate.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a modified marker plate having a pair of eyes at each side, with means for preventing the eyes from opening or separat- Fig. 7 is a top view of the marker plate shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of'a modified marker plate showing a difierent means for preventing the pairs of eyes from separating.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of a further modified marker plate.

Fig. 10 is a top View of the modified marker plate shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a further modified form of marker plate.

Fig. 12 is a side view of the marker plate shown in Fig. 11

Fig. 13 is a plan View of a further modified terial, said sheet I bearing the desired indicia which maybe engraved, stamped, or otherwise applied thereto; and across the back of sheet [is a metallic strip 2 extending beyond the sidesoi sheet I and secured 'to the sheet by rivets 3 or the like, the back of sheet I, if desired having a recess therein receiving the said strip 2 so that the strip will be flush with the back of the sheet.

The extending portions ofthe'strip 2 are bent or rolled to form eyes 2a, the axes of' which are disposed parallel with the plane of sheet I, each eye being adapted to receive a link at an end of chain 4, which latter is adapted to be passed around the horns or around the neck of the animal, the marker plate securing the ends of the chain 4 together. The axes of the eyes 2a may be disposedin the plane of sheeti butit desired same may be offset rearwardly of the sheet, as clearly indicated in Figsni and 5, so that when the marker plate is used as a horn marker, the backs of the eyes 2a will rest upon the forehead of the animal thereby maintaining the sheet I spaced from the animals forehead to allow circulation of air thereunder. Also the links of chain 4 are relatively long with respect to the Width of the eyes 2a as indicated in Fig. 1, per mitting the eyes of the marker to work up and down in the links of the chain, thereby obviating the tendency of the marker plate to turn over on the forehead due to movements of the head of the animal.

In Fig. 3 the outer tips of the eyes 211 are shown as provided with bulges 2b preferably formed by offsetting the material of thestrlp '2 but may be formed in any other desired manner; said bulges 21) providing portions on the eyes of substantial size which project inwardly within the rolled eyes, as shown in Fig- 3, adjacentthe' tips or points of contact of the outer tips with I bases of the eyes, the bulged portions 2b serving to prevent the links of chain 4 from readily slip ping out of the'eyesinevent the eyes should become partially opened, or should not initially be fully closed, the chain, links becoming hooked over bulged portions 2b when the eyes start to open, or thebulged portions 212 serving to present a longerslot through which the links must slip in. passing out of a partly opened eye.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, the rolled tips of the eyes 2a when closed seat against the sides of the sheet I, thus preventing the, eyes from readily opening due'to strainsimposed on opposite ends of the chain 4, and: thus also serving to maintain the links engaged with, the eyes in event the eyes shouldbe or become only partially closed.

In practice, the markerswould; be made up with one eye 2a closeditightly to lock'the engaged link at one end of the chain l therein, while the other eye would be left'partiallymopen (as indicated in Figs. 1-3 inclusive) so thatin applying the marker to the cattle the farmer or herdsman need only to insert a link adjacent the free end of the chain in said open eye (toprovide a chain of the desired length) and to thereafter apply sufiicient pressure to close the open eye thereby locking the ends of the chain which passes around the horns or neck of the live-stock to the marker plate, and the sheet I of the marker plate which bears the proper identificationnumber or indicia for the respectivecow or live-stock; will lie, exposed to view. slightly spaced from the forehead of the animal when used as a horn marker, orwill hang exposed tofront view when used as a neck marker sincethe two eyes tend tosprevent the ends of the chain adjacent the marker plate from becoming twisted; As the animal grows, it will become necessary for, the farmer or herdsman to pry open one eye 2a. of the markerand engage a diiierent link of chain 4 in said opened eye, and then againclose the saideye to lock said link therein thus permitting the overalllengthof the chain to be adjusted? to correspond with th growth of the live-stock. In cases where the sides of the sheet i do no contact the tips of the closed eyes 2a as shown in Figs. 1-3 inclusive, the eyes of the marker would have a tendency toopen when the cattle to which the markers are applied lock horns, or graze too near fences, and thustcatch the chains 4 in horns or other objects, whereby the strains on the chain tend to pull the eyes open. I

therefore provide a novel preventing means, shown in Figs. land 5, in which the strip '2 of the marker plate shown in Fig. 4 is provided with a groove 20 extending across the base of the shank portion of each eye into which the outer tip of the eye enters, the lower wall of the groove 20 forming a shoulder upon which the outer tip rests and is thus supported to resist ready opening of the closed eye. Preferably the groove 20 is formed by offsetting under pressure the material of the strip 2, but may be otherwise formed in any desired manner. Instead of providing grooves 20 shown inFig. 4, transverse-ribs or knobs M (Fig. 5) may he formed similarly to' the grooves, said ribs or knobs 2d extending across the shanks of the eyes. and formingxshoulders upon which the outer tip of the closed eyes seat.

A modified form of marker plateis 'shownhin Figs. 6 and 7 in which the projecting ends of metallic strip 5, which is of greater width than i strip 2, are provided with spaced tongues 50. extending beyond the outer ends thereof, which tongues 5a are rolled to form a pair of eyes at each side of sheet I, each pair being adapted to engage a link at the end of chain 4, the pairs of iii eyes: forming, double-locks, on. the links at'each end-ct the chain. The outer'end of each tongue 501 may be providedvv with the; bulges 2b in, the same manner. as above described in. connection with Figs. 3,120. 5 inclusive, and with the grooves 210. (Fig. 4') and the.- ridges or knobs 2d (Fig. 5)

-for the same purpose. Also in this modification the upper andlower edges thereof arebent over to form flanges 5b contacting the sideedges; of the tongues 5a: when rolled toform eyes, the splits in the eyes being disposed between the flanges 5b which serve to prevent the chain links from passing out of the eyes in. event the eyes should: accidentally becomepartly open; andthe flanges 5b alsorpreventing the eyesof-each pair from spreadingalong their common axis to such extent that the eyes would become open.

Inste d? of using thefianges 51) shown. in Figs. 6 and: 7, straps 6 maybe usedas shown in Fig. 8-,, said straps 5{ being of length substantially the same as thev overall width of each pair of eyes 5a. One strap 6 and, one end of the chain 4 may be initially lockedin oneof the pairs of eyes 5a which are closed tightly over. the strap 6 and chain 4 as shown in Fig. Stofirmly secure same therein at the time the marker is sold. One eye of. the other. pair'would be left open, while the remaining eye is closed on the other strap 6 so that in applying the marker shown in Fig. 8 to the live-stock;-the farmer or herdsman would merely need to open the last named eye and run the chain 4 around the hornsor neck of the ani;- mal and engage a link adjacent the free end of the chain in the open pair of eyes and to engage the other strap 6 in the open pair of eyes, and then close said open pair, the links 6 being thus disposed and maintained on the rolled tongues 5a adjacent their outer ends, thus preventing the outer ends of the eyes adjacent the splits from separating: along the common axesof the pairs ofeyes.

In the modification. shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the fibre or other non-metallic non-corrosive sheet 1: bearing the-indicia is provided adjacent i eachiside with a vertically disposed slot Ix of sufiicient width, to receive a strap (not shown) passed through one slot 1:0 and extending across the back of the sheet I and out through the other slot inc and out around the neck. of the live-stock, the ends of the strap being secured together by the usual buckle or the like, and said modification being particularly adapted for use on very young live-stock.

Extending from the upper portion of sheet I is. a metallic strip 1- riveted thereto as at 8, the strip: 1 being rolled to form an eye la, which would normally beclosed. However, as the livestock grows older the strap could be removed fromthe slot ILL and the eye la opened up and the ends of the chain such as 4 could be inserted in the eye la. which would then be closed, the marker plate with the chain being then usable as above described as a, born. or, neck marker.

If desired, the portion of the strip 7 underlying the sheet i could be of; sufiicient width to serveas a reinforcement for thesheet l to prevent same from warping. Also if desired the strip 1 mightlbe entirely omitted and asteel strip substituted inplace thereof: extending acrossthe back of the sheet I to-prevent warpage, or if olesired,the marker shown in Figs. 9 and 10 without. the metalstrip-T could. be made or all fibre if desired.

Where the eye la is used means similar to bulges 21), 2d or grooves 20 shown in the preceding figures could be used to preventthe eye from readily opening after being closed on the ends of the chain, or if desired, the tip of the tongue Ia when closed could abut against the top of the sheet I to resist in opening the eye.

In the modification shown in Figs. Hand 12,

the fibre or other sheet I bearing the indicia has secured to its upper edge by means of rivets 9 a U-shaped metallic clip [0, the ends of which overlap the sheet I and the clip l carrying a ring II through which the ends of a strap or chain may be inserted and passed around the neck or horns of the live-stock. Preferably the portion of the sheet metal clip Hl engaging the sheet l is of sufiicient width to serve as a reinforcement for the sheet i to prevent the sheet from Warping.

In the modification shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the sheet I bearing the indicia has secured to its upper portion a metallic strip l2 having spaced tongues i2a extending from its upper edge which are rolled to form a pair of spaced eyes, the outer tips of which are adapted to abut against the upper edge of the sheet I.

In marketing the marker shown in this modification, one eye I2a of the strip [2 would be closed upon the link at one end, While theother eye would be left open as shown so that in applying the marker to the live-stock the farmer or herdsman needs only to place the chain around the horns orneck' of the live-stock and insert a link in the open eye and thereafter close said eye. The tongues l2a and strip l2 shown in this modification may, if desired, be provided with any ridges or knobs 21) or 2d or with the grooves 20 shown in preceding figures; also with the flanges ill) or links 6 shown in any of the preceding figures and for the same purpose.

Instead of using a strap having a pair of spaced tongues as shown in Fig. 13, the fibre sheet 1 bearing the indicia may be provided at its upper edge with a pair of upwardly and outwardly diverging metallic strips I3 secured by rivets M to the sheet I, the outer ends of the strips l3 being rolled to form diverging eyes 13a adapted to receive the ends of the chain which is passed around the neck or horns of the animal. In this modification the eyes I311 and strips [3 may also be provided with the raised ribs or knobs 2b, 2a or the groove 20 shown in the preceding figures and for the same purpose.

In-Figs. 16 and 17 a further modification is shown in which the fibre sheet I bearing the indicia is provided at its upper portion with a strip I riveted thereto as at I6, the outer portion of the strip being rolled to form an eye I5a, the tip or outer end of which is adapted to seat upon the top edge of the sheet I as shown, and if desired the portion of the strip l5 underlying the sheet I could extend the full Width of the sheet I for the purpose of reinforcing same and preventing warpage. Within the eye 15a is a lock washer IS with which one end of the chain could be engaged when the marker is sold and the other end of the link being engaged therewith after the chain has been passed around the neck or horns of the animal. Instead of using a lock ring IS an ordinary split ring could be used.

the upper edge of the sheet l, the strip l5 may be provided with the raised ribs or beads 2d'or with the groove 20 as shown in the preceding figures; v I

I do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope ofth'e claims.

I claim: V i 1. An animal marker or the like comprising-a. non-metallic indicia bearing plate, a metallic strip'secured to and extending across theback of said plate and extending beyond the sides'of said plate, said extending portions being rolled to form eyes; a chain having links at each end adapted to be engaged with the respective eyesi; andmeans for preventing opening of the'eyes.

2. In a marker as set forth in claim 1, one said eye being closed and engaging a link at one end of the chain; and the other eye being open and adapted to receive a link adjacent the other end of the chain before closing of said open eye.

3. In a marker as set forth in claim 1, the backs of said eyes being oifset rearwardly of the plane of the plate. 1 s

4. In a marker as set forth in claim 1, said means comprising raised portions on the strip upon'which the outer tips of the rolled eyes rest. 5. In a marker as set forth in claim 1, an offset portion extending inwardly of each eye at-the ing links at each end adapted to' be engaged with the respective eyes, said tongues formingdouble eyes locked on the chain links at each side of the plate.

'1. In a marker as set forth in claim 6, offset portions extending inwardly of eacheye at the outer end of each tongue.

8. In a marker as set forth in claim 6, means for preventing opening of the eyes.

9. In a marker as set forth in claim 6, means for preventing separation'of the pairs of eyes at each side of the plate along theircommon axes.

10. In a marker as set forth in claim 6, means for preventing separation of the pairs of eyes at However, the use of the lock ring has obvious adeach side of the plate along their common axes,

said means comprising flanges on-the sides of the shanks engaging the outer edges of the pairs of rolled tongues adjacent their outer ends.

11. An animal marker or the like, comprising a non-metallic indiciabearing platepa metallic strip secured to and extending across the back of said plate and extending beyond a side ofv said .each tongue; a shoulder on the base of the shank underlying the outer end of each rolled tongue;

WILLIAM F. SCHACHT. 

